AFTERMATH

CHAPTER ELEVEN

They rode into the valley to the cheers of the others. As soon as they stopped, Mulder hurled himself at Scully, dragging her out of the sidecar and kissing her violently. Skinner walked up to Alex, kissed him hard then pulled back a fist and punched him in the face, knocking him down. With that, he turned away and walked back to his barracks.

The group gathered around laughed and applauded while they hauled Alex to his feet and shoved him towards the barracks after Skinner.

Walter stood with his back to the door, one hand on the bunk bed. Alex came in and turned the lock on the door behind him so they wouldn't be disturbed.

"I'm sorry." Alex said. Walter remained silent. "I saw you in the woods with Mulder. The two of you were kissing. Then you were on the ground on top of him kissing him again."

Walter remained silent.

"I couldn't stay here; I couldn't … share you."

"You're a fool! You know that? A God damned stupid fool!" Walter whirled on him.

They stared at each other, neither willing to back down or comment further.

"What would you have done?" Alex asked angrily.

"What would I have done?" Walter thought for a moment.

"Yeah. What would you have done if you had come into the woods and seen me kissing Mulder; lying on the ground on top of him, kissing him?"

Walter stared at him for a moment then started out. "I would have come up to you and offered a hand to help you up as you had *obviously* stumbled and as Mulder tried to help, he went down too taking you with him. I would have dusted you off and invited the two of you inside for dinner."

"You lying son of a bitch," Alex chuckled.

In an instant Walter had him in his arms and kissed him passionately. "I'm a lying son of a bitch and you're still a fucking idiot! Did you really think that something was going on between me and Mulder?"

"I didn't until I saw you kissing him."

"You didn't see me kissing him. You saw him kissing me – big difference."

"Not from my angle."

"Then you should have stayed around long enough to ask questions! Jesus, Alex. You've been gone nearly a year! I was sure they had taken you!" Walter held him close, crushing the life half out of him.

"They did but I got away. And the camp they put me in just happened to be the one where Scully was being held."

"Why didn't her name show up on any of the lists?"

"I don't think any of our teams got up into Canada."

"Canada? You went to Canada?"

"Hell, I was so drunk; I didn't know where I was half the time. I just kept on going and drinking; trying to wipe what I'd seen out of my memory."

"Like I said, you're an idiot." Walter kissed him tenderly this time.

"I thought I'd lost you. I couldn't stand it. I couldn't stay around here and see the two of you together."

"The only thing that matters now is that you're safe and back here where you belong."

Alex melted against him; into the only warmth he had ever known and sighed with contentment.

"Oh my God! I haven't told you the news!" Alex pulled back from the embrace.

"The news is that you're home and you found Scully? I know that." Walter pulled him back again but Alex resisted.

"It's all over! They're gone. The aliens are all gone and all the camps are liberated. Everyone is out in the streets celebrating!"

Walter stared at him open mouthed. "Are you sure? It could be some kind of trick?"

"No, it isn't. Here." Alex pulled the leaflet out of his pocket and gave it to him. "It's all over, Walter. That's from the President. He wants everyone connected with the Bureau to come to D.C. You'll be made Director for sure!"

Walter scanned the document and as he read he heard the celebrating out side as the cheers broke out. They were all safe now. Safe from the aliens, but what was left of their country? A shiver of fear went through him as he thought about that. Would things ever again get back to where they were?

They were swept up in a maelstrom of celebration. Everyone was screaming and shouting and hugging everyone. The SO men who were in camp at the time took off on their motorcycles to investigate. People were dancing and singing "Happy Days are Here Again". A shower finally sent them all inside for lunch. They were all so excited they could barely eat. Afterwards there was packing to do; then came time for good-byes.

They loaded up their belongings and climbed into the trucks. Everyone was hugging and promising to write one another or keep in touch in whatever way they could. Even Harry was weeping and he said his good byes and hugging everybody.

"Alex, I'll never forget what you did for me; for us all. You made me realize that I am capable of a lot more than I ever dreamed possible." He grabbed Alex and hugged him. "You ever get to NYC, you look me up! I'm Yellow Cab number 6048."

"Yeah, thanks, Harry." Alex answered as he disentangled himself.

"I mean it now. I'm in the phone book. Call me or come by. I'll buy you a beer."

"I'll do that. Take care of yourself now."

"I will. I know how to now, thanks to you." Harry said and climbed into the back of the truck.

"Are you ready to go, Walter?" Mulder asked as he and Scully walked up, their arms wrapped around each other.

"In a minute." Walter said and turned to Alex. "So what are your plans?"

"I don't have any. For the first time in four years, all I have to do is look out for myself."

"Why not come back to D.C. with us? I'm sure I could put in a word for you; maybe get you back on at the Bureau."

"No thanks. I'm not the neck tie and briefcase type." Alex answered as he sat on his motorcycle.

"You could be if you wanted to." Walter said, dreading what he knew was coming.

"You go on to D.C. Do your thing, Walter. They need you now more than ever. What they don't need is an ex-Consortium assassin."

"No one needs to know about that."

"Enough do to make working at the Bureau out of the question for me."

"So you're saying 'Good bye' then?" Walter hated that his voice and his words sounded so needy.

"Come on, Walter. The last truck is leaving." Mulder called to him as he helped Scully on board and jumped on himself.

Alex pulled his helmet on, keyed the ignition on his motorcycle and roared off. Walter watched him go as he climbed on board the truck. He watched as the motorcycle cleared the bridge, crossed the fields and disappeared into the tunnel. He glanced back for one last look at the settlement just before they entered the tunnel. A great sadness welled up inside of him. This had been his home for two years. He had found safety there, freedom, companionship and much, much more. He swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to join in with all the others who were celebrating going home. He didn't have much luck. He couldn't help but wonder what they were going to find when they got there.

In minutes they had made it into town and were unloading and climbing aboard one of the four Greyhound busses that the Special Ops men had secured for them. Mulder and Scully had cuddled up next to each other; holding hands and whispering softly to one another. Walter took a seat farther back and sat alone next to a window. He leaned his head against the cool glass and thought about Alex.

It seemed strange driving up on the highway again. They made pretty good time except when they came to a town and had to make their way around all the cars still left in the middle of the street. Most of them just sitting there as if stopped for a red light, several were burned out. They tried to not look at those for they all knew what that meant.

Along the way they dropped people off and sometimes picked people up walking along the highway. Skinner watched numbly, dreading what he was going to find when he got to D.C. He got off the bus in a small town about seventy five miles west of D.C. which put him within a few miles walk of his cabin. He kept the good-byes short and left with his few belongings in a back pack. He slung it over his shoulder and started walking.

There were people all around now and cars driving back and forth. He wondered if his car would still be there where he left it four years earlier. The bus was staying in town for lunch so if his car was gone, or too damaged to drive, he could make it back into town in time to go on to D.C. with them.

He found the car right where he left it – keys still in the ignition. His cabin was untouched and locked up tight. He was grateful now that in his haste to get out of there that he had left the keys in the car. He unlocked the cabin door and went in.

It was musty and full of dust but other than that, nothing had changed. He grabbed up a few clothes and dumped those, along with the contents of his pack, into a sports bag he dragged out of the closet. In the kitchen, he bagged up some of the groceries he had on the shelves. He started to take it all then decided to leave some behind – just in case someone hungry came through. He left the door unlocked, took one last look around and left.

The drive into D.C. felt strange. He had driven nothing in the last four years but those trucks or a motorcycle and that was all off-road. The car seemed unusually large and comfortable. The closer he got into town, the more traffic there was. He could see burned out cars along the side of the highway where they had been pushed off the road. The clean up had begun.

He took the Crystal City turn off and made his way to his apartment. He was pleased to see the electricity on but there was no one at the front desk, no one milling around the lobby. He tried the elevator and the door opened immediately. Outside his door he hesitated. He had often come home at odd hours and found the building this silent but never before in the middle of the day. He wondered how many of his neighbors had made it. He put the key in the lock, turned it and walked in.

He stood in the middle of the room and glanced around. It was exactly as he had left it except for the heavy layer of dust that coated everything. He went straight to his liquor cabinet, uncapped a bottle and after wiping it off, took a long drink.

He coughed and gagged at the burn. It was the first touch of alcohol he had had in four years and it jolted him. He recapped the bottle, took his coat off and got to work. The first thing he did was to open the sliding glass doors to the balcony. The place desperately needed to be aired out.

He took the stairs two at a time and made it up to his room. He pulled everything off his bed, got the towels out of his bathroom – all of them – even the ones in the cabinet and carried everything downstairs to the laundry room. The washer spit and sputtered when he first turned it on but he stuffed it full and headed for the kitchen.

He hadn't had all that much food in his refrigerator but when he opened the door it still emitted a foul odor. He got out a plastic trash bag and dumped everything. The water in the sink ran rusty for a few seconds then it was clear again and he started scrubbing everything up.

After the kitchen he did both bathrooms, upstairs and down. He stopped only long enough to fix himself something to eat. He had all sorts of things in his pantry but opted instead to open a can of green beans followed by a can of peaches that he had brought out of the settlement. He sat at his kitchen table and looked around and wondered why he had never felt so alone before in this place which now felt huge to him. He made a mental note to dump this place as soon as he could. He couldn't remember for the life of him, why he had felt the need for a place this big. And two bedrooms; why on earth had he gotten a place with two bedrooms? Just one more room to clean and he had never had an over night guest in all the time he had lived there. What a colossal waste of space and money. He shook his head at himself then wondered how many others going home had the same feelings.

He was jolted out of his reflections when the phone rang. He hadn't heard a phone ring in so long it addled him for a moment. He sat down at his desk and answered it.

"Skinner." He said.

"Good, you made it. Are you coming in this afternoon? You won't believe the mess we've got on our hands here." Mulder said.

"Yeah. I need to clean up first. I should be there within an hour. How bad is it?"

"Let's just say, you can have your pick of offices now."

Skinner sighed and rubbed the back of his neck; the old tension rearing its head again. "I'll be there shortly."


The streets of D.C. had about as much traffic as they normally did on a Sunday morning – next to none. He pulled into the parking lot to find no guard at the gate and a sign that said to use the front entrance and check in at the desk. Before he got to the desk, two men came up to him and asked, "Are you an AD? Do you know what's going on here? What we're supposed to be doing?"

"Have you checked in at the desk?" Skinner asked them.

"Yeah, but our names aren't on any lists. We had just finished training at Quantico and hadn't been assigned anywhere yet."

"Ok. Well come on up with me. I'll see what I can find out." Skinner was surprised to see Nelson, the old guard from the parking lot sitting behind the front desk.

"Nelson! Good to see you." Skinner reached out a hand to the smiling man.

"You too, Mr. Skinner. Glad to see that you made it. You can go right on up."

Up on the fourth floor most of the offices were deserted. Mulder met him in the hallway.

"Here," Mulder said and handed him a cell phone. "Phones are working pretty good again. Where'd you pick these two up?"

"Lobby. They said they just finished up at Quantico but hadn't been assigned anywhere. Do we have computer access so we can check them out?"

"Yeah, we do." Mulder said as he followed Skinner into his office.

"Oh hi, Walter – I mean sir." Scully popped out from his en-suite bathroom drying her hands on a paper towel. "I was just cleaning up the place for you."

"Thanks, Dana. I appreciate that. Who's in charge; does anyone know?"

"Unfortunately, Kersh seems to be the only one higher than you to show up."

"No one's heard from the Director?" Skinner asked.

"No. She could still be around somewhere but no one has heard from her."

"So exactly what do we have left?"

"Kersh, four A.D.s, and about twenty five agents." Mulder said.

"Oh my God!" Skinner sighed and sat down behind his desk. "Well, can you get someone to check these two out? We're going to need them."

"I'll do it." Mulder said and took the two young men out of the office with him.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Scully asked.

"I don't suppose there are any secretaries around?"

"Five so far have showed up."

"And I suppose the other A.D.s and Kersh already have them doing double duty."

"I'm afraid so. I've been trying to help out all I can as there doesn't seem to be any classes going yet. How can I help?"

"Thanks, Dana. I appreciate that." Skinner leaned back in his chair and grimaced. Where to start! "I guess I need to see Kersh. Can you set up an appointment with him for me?"

"Certainly." She said and left his office.

Before he had a chance to clear his mind she came back in with the message that Kersh wanted to see him immediately.

He was shocked by the warm greeting Kersh had given him, standing up and reaching out his hand. He was genuinely happy to see Skinner. The two of them got right to work.


Six months later …

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Mulder asked as Skinner pulled his office key off his key ring and handed it to him.

"Positive. Everything is running relatively smoothly now."

"You're going to go look for Krycek?"

"Uh huh. He's out there somewhere. Maybe he'll hear that I've left the Bureau and he'll find me. I don't know. I just know it's what I have to do."

"He could be anywhere. It'd be like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"Needles have been found in haystacks before. Maybe I'll get lucky." Skinner said as he entered the elevator and pressed the down button.

"You really think he's a changed man?" Mulder asked as he rode down with him.

"I know he is."

"What are your plans for after you find him?" Mulder asked as they made their way out of the building.

"I don't have any. We'll just play it by ear; whatever he wants."

"You're really that crazy about him?"

"I am." Skinner stopped beside his car, unlocked the door and opened it. He looked back at Mulder and said. "Everyone has changed since this catastrophe, Mulder. Why can't you believe that Alex could change too?"

"I don't know. Maybe there was just too much there between us. I can't quite let myself believe that he could, even though Scully believes he has too."

"You didn't get to spend much time with him before he left. But you talked with the others in the settlement. Didn't they change your mind at all?"

"I never could believe they were talking about the same person that I knew."

"That was the real Alex Krycek, Mulder. The one we never met before. Or maybe you did when he first came to work at the Hoover and the two of you worked together."

"That was another life time. He totally changed when he left the Bureau."

"And now he's changed back. We all change over the years, Mulder. Why can't you believe that he could change too?"

"I don't know."

"Well I trust him and I'm going to find him."

"Just be careful and keep in touch!" Mulder said as Skinner climbed into his car and closed the door.

"I will." Skinner answered through the window as it slid down. "You and Scully take care of one another."

Mulder gave a little wave as Skinner backed his car out of his spot and drove off.

He made a quick stop at his condo, changed clothes, loaded up his SUV and headed west.
He didn't know what made him think to go there first but the settlement was the only place he could think of so he made a bee line for it. He arrived at dusk on the second day.

It took him a while but he finally found the entrance and pulled the bushes aside, worked the lock on the door and pulled his car into the tunnel. He got out and closed and locked it behind him. The tunnel was dark; none of the lanterns were lit. He had enough light with his car lights to see where he was going and in a few minutes he was at the inner door. He worked the lock on it and drove on through into the valley, locking the door behind him.

He stood for a moment in the semi-darkness and gazed across the river. He saw nothing, no movement or sign of life anywhere. He sighed. Maybe this was a mistake. The place seemed empty. He gazed at the empty stables, the empty mechanics shed, the over grown fields and a great feeling of sadness overcame him. He drove slowly through the fields and across the bridge. He stopped his car and got out when he came to the main clearing. All was deathly quiet.

His heart swelled up and he couldn't stop the tears. He picked up a lawn chair that had blown over and sat it up with the others. He slumped into the chair, head in hands and whispered aloud, "Alex, where are you!"

After a time, he stood up and walked to his old building. He tried the knob and it was unlocked. He went in flicked the light switch and the lights came on.
The place was just as he left it. He went over to his bunk and lay down. He turned over and wept. "Why did I let you go?" He sobbed. "I never should have let go of you once you got back. I should have told you how much I missed you; how much I needed you."

Eventually he slept. When he awoke, the sun was shining in the window and he felt the staleness of the place. He got up and opened the windows and aired the place out. The breeze was cool and he knew winter was not too far behind.

He wandered around the place for a bit then headed for the cafeteria. There was still a lot of food in the kitchen and in the storage shed. The freezers were still half full. He dug around in the kitchen and put a pot of coffee on. What to do next, he wondered. He was in pretty good shape if he wanted to winter there but was that what he wanted to do – winter there all alone?

He fixed himself some oatmeal and ate it down hungrily. Afterwards he stood staring out into the fields for a while then went out to the shed and got some burlap bags and set about to work in the fields. No sense in letting all the food just rot there. He picked all that hadn't already rotted and carried it over his shoulder and into the kitchen. Then he got out a shovel and started digging potatoes and other root vegetables. By the time he was finished he was soaked with sweat and starving again.

He pulled an elk steak out of the freezer and put it in the microwave to thaw then headed for his building. He took a quick shower and changed his clothes then headed back to the kitchen to prepare his dinner. It was as delicious as he remembered. The food was perfect. Everything was perfect except for the fact that he was alone – again.

After dinner the rain came and it got quite cold. He started a fire in the stove that was nearest his bunk but it was still cold; too cold. The next morning, he set about moving into one of the cabins that had been built for the families. They were small, two bedroom cabins – about the same size as his cabin in Virginia, maybe a little bigger.

He got a fire going in the fireplace and in no time the place was warmed up. He sat in the rocker in front of the fire and wondered what he should do next. He was so sure that Alex would be there but he was wrong and he didn't have a clue to where to look for him.

The next few weeks he puttered around the place doing little odd jobs. He got out the cook books in the main kitchen and figured out how to freeze the vegetables and set about doing that. When he had finished the freezers were full.

He noticed the apple trees that they had planted were full and spent a few days picking all he could reach. He spent the next several days making apple juice and applesauce. He followed the directions carefully and was thankful that he had helped their cook Bobby do this the year before. He carefully labeled and dated everything.

He was sitting in front of the fire one evening and watching the snow coming down. He made a mental note to dig out the snow shoes as before long it would be difficult getting around out side. He was listening to some music on a CD player when he first heard it. He thought the CD was going bad but then he heard it again -- a loud drunken voice singing something out of tune.

He got up and switched the music off. He was about to go to bed when he heard it again.
It was louder this time. He could only make out a few words but one seemed to be 'Super' something or other. He grabbed his coat and yanked the door open. He heard it loud and clear this time, "Super- calla- fuck-if-I-care-a dotious" and some other assorted mumblings.

He ran towards the main clearing and saw it then. Someone was sitting on a motorcycle, arms outstretched and singing at the top of his lungs. He ran as fast as he could. It was Alex! He knew it. It just had to be Alex! He prayed as he hurried through the falling snow.
"ALEX! ALEX!" he screamed as he ran towards him.

The singing stopped and Alex got off his motorcycle. He stared as if seeing a ghost as Skinner came running to him out of the snowy night.

"I can't remember the fucking words to that stupid song." He mumbled.

Skinner seized him then and they both fell into the snow. Skinner showered him with kisses and in between he tried to get a few words in. "I love you, Alex. I never should have let you go. Never, ever let you go again. God, I missed you!"

When he could catch his breath, Alex pulled away and sat up. "What are you doing here when you should be in D.C. with Mulder?"

"Why on earth would I want to be in D.C. with Mulder when I can be right here with you?"

"Is he here?" Alex looked quickly around.

"No. We're alone; just the two of us." He pulled Alex's face in for another kiss.

"Shit. I'm drunk. This is probably another dream."

Skinner took a hold of Alex's ear and twisted it.

"Owww."

"You're not dreaming. You probably are drunk though. You smell like it. You need a nice hot bath. How does that sound? I've got some elk stew warming up in the kitchen and a fire in the fireplace. Come on." He stood up and pulled Alex to his feet.

"Ohhhhh, my head hurts." Alex complained as they walked.

"How much have you had to drink?"

"I don't know. I wasn't keeping track. Hey, are you really here?"

"I'm here all right. Can't you hear my teeth chatter? It's freezing out here."

"Then let's get inside." Alex said and turned towards the barracks building.

"No, down here. I'm in the Dunlap's cabin."

"Who else is here?"

"No one. Just us. You think you can stand that? Being alone here with me?"
Walter smiled at him as he opened the door and they went inside to the warmth of the cabin.

Alex stared at him as they warmed their hands at the fire place. "What are you doing here, Walter?"

"I came looking for you. I've been here almost two months now. I didn't know where else to look."

"You needed me for something?"

"Uh huh. I need you to make me feel whole again. The only time in my life when I've ever felt complete and where I belonged was that year I spent here with you."

"Oh man, if I'm dreaming – this is some dream!" Alex mumbled.

"It's not a dream, Alex, its reality; our reality. If you want it, that is."

Alex couldn't speak he was shaking so hard.

"You're freezing," Walter said. "I'll get a hot bath started for you. You'll feel better after you get cleaned up a bit. My razor is in there, help yourself. I'll put some coffee on."

Alex kept his place in front of the fire until Walter came back out of the bathroom and headed for the kitchen. He then made his way to the back and into the bathroom which was now filling up with steam. He couldn't remember when anything looked as inviting as that tub filling with hot water. He stripped his clothes off quickly and shaved while the tub was filling.

He soaped up then just sat and soaked in the sudsy water until it turned cool. He was about to get out when there was a knock on the door and Walter came in.

"Here. Get some of this in you." He handed Alex a cup of steaming coffee.

"You came here looking for me? How did you know I'd even come back here?"

"I didn't. I just hoped you would."

Alex sipped his coffee, "So what are your plans?"

"Just one. And that is to never let you out of my sight again." Walter grinned as he crossed his arms and leaned back against the closed door.

Alex's head thudded back against the wall as he stared at Walter. "What about D.C.? How long before you have to go back?"

"I'm not going back. I recommended Mulder to take my place and Kersh agreed."

"What are they doing for agents then?"

"There was a whole class of graduates just before this thing happened -- three hundred and sixteen. Two hundred and eighty three made it out alive."

"They're all new though."

"Uh huh. New agents for a new country. It's a whole new world out there now, Alex. We've been given a chance here to do it all over. Let's hope we get it right this time." Walter took a deep breath. "There's something I want to tell you, something that I should have told you long ago. I love you, Alex, more than I've ever loved any one or any thing and more than that … I need you. These last months without you have been brutal. But I did my part. I helped get everything organized and going again at the Bureau. I'm a free man now, free to go where I want and do what I want and what I want is to be with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Alex. I don't care where we go or what we do – I just want us to be together."

Alex sat his coffee cup on the side of the tub and stood. Walter handed him a towel.

"I want that too, Walter. I want to get it right this time." Alex said as he dried himself.

"You will, Alex, and so will I."

EPILOGUE

When the end came, it was almost as great a shock as the invasion. Suddenly one morning, they were just all gone. The gates to all the internment camps were left standing wide open and their absence generated almost as much fear as their appearance.

First everyone just stared at the open gate until finally one brave person stepped through and walked towards the building. Someone screamed for him to come back or he'd be burned but he went on. Feeding time had come and gone and everyone was milling around in the yard. The barracks had always been locked at night but left unlocked during the day to give them access to the fenced in areas.

It was soon discovered that the aliens were gone; all of them. The people screamed and yelled and celebrated and started carefully out of the enclosure. Someone got in one of the trucks and drove into town and came back a short time later to tell everyone that town was deserted. Not an alien was to be found anywhere. This scene was played out at every internment camp all over the world. The aliens were gone and the people were once again free.

The world slowly came alive again. Notices were printed up and dropped by airplanes telling people that the danger had passed.

Once they had been able to restore communications, only then could they realize the exact magnitude of their crisis – and it was massive. The population of the United States alone had been taken down twenty-five percent. Many had been burned in the first few days, some died in the internment camps and some from the struggle for survival from the four years of Alien rule.

And now it was time to pick up the pieces and move on. Few Governors survived, several ex-governors were brought out of retirement and pressed into service which they readily accepted and set about bringing some sort of order to each state and assessing the extent of the damage. Where Governors were not available, the President appointed someone to take over the duties.

It was the same with the military. Officers were found scattered across the country who had been either on leave or just in civilian clothes and caught on to what was happening and managed to stay alive. They were immediately sent out to each state capitol to organize some sort of order among the population and assist the Governors in what ever they needed.

THREE MONTHS LATER

Three months later all the bodies had been buried, head counts had been made and the extent of the tragedy was finally known. It was announced in all the media and the entire country was in a state of shock for a time but they soon rallied and got back to the business of a working thriving country. There was no un-employment now. There were jobs to be had by anyone who was willing to work and that was about ninety five percent of the population.

Some were unable to work and would have to be taken care of the rest of their lives but that was normal in any society. The farmers were back in their fields, the ranchers were back to herding their cattle, bakers and cooks were back in their kitchens, and industries were starting up all over again

The reason for the alien 'visit' became obvious soon enough. All over the world, warehouses, large empty buildings were found to hold huge numbers of empty shells. Apparently, the aliens needed a nesting place where hundreds of thousands of eggs had sat until maturity. A few had not hatched and were in laboratories all over the world being studied. Something had made them come to earth for this nesting period and the scientists were determined to find out what it was so they could be sure it never happened again.

It was as though the country had just taken a four year nap and was only now slowly awakening. Everyone stretched, rolled up their sleeves and got back to the business of living.


THE END